Playing in weather not fit for man nor beast, Northeastern hosted Centerville in a battle for Tri-Eastern Conference supremacy on Friday, Sept. 27. The Knights, 12th-ranked in latest AP 2A poll, and the Bulldogs, the 16th-ranked team in 2A, were forced by remnants of Hurricane Helene to deviate from their normal game plans and prioritize just holding on to the slippery football. The fact that there were multiple fumbles and bad snaps was an indication that both teams had unavoidable butter fingers.
The gravity of the weather conditions became apparent on the first punt attempt from Centerville from the 24-yard line, as the ball got caught in a wind current and went backwards to the 5-yard line. Four plays later Marshall Phillips kicked a 25-yard field goal with the wind at his back to give the Knights a 3-0 lead, with 7:44 remaining in the first quarter.
The balance of the first quarter and all of the second quarter became a comedy of errors. Neither team was willing to punt the ball, even in fourth and long situations, so the teams repeatedly turned the ball over on downs. Reluctant to pass, the Knights called running plays for Colton Creech over and over. Ethan Vecera got most of the carries for the Bulldogs. At halftime the score remained 3-0.
Early in the third quarter the Bulldogs recovered a bad snap fumble on the 30 yard line. Four plays later Maddox Pritchett scored from 12 yards out to give the Bulldogs a 6-3 lead at the 8:40 mark. The Bulldogs added to their lead a minute into the fourth quarter. A long pass play from Vecera to Pritchett gave the Bulldogs a first and goal from the two yard line. Vecera crossed the goal line from two yards out, fumbled the ball forward, and a Bulldog teammate pounced on it for a touchdown that gave the Dawgs a 12-3 lead. Under the circumstances, with only 10:53 to play, it was a big lead.
After three possession changes the Knights scored with 5:18 remaining in the game on a short TD run from Dylan Ross that cut the Knight deficit to 12-9, Phillips booted the extra point to make the score 12-10.
After possession changes because of turnovers the Knights came up with the miracle play they needed with 1:05 remaining in the game. Facing a third and 15 situation Blake Waters tried to throw a pass to Trent Deloney. Pritchett, the Centerville defense back, leaped in the air to bat the ball away but it stayed in the wind long enough for Deloney to run under it and race 72 yards for a touchdown that gave the Knights a 16-12 win.
Northeastern head coach Wes Oler, sporting a huge smile with rain running down his face, said his team never quit. “Needless to say we were in a bad situation,” Oler said. “The kids never doubted each other and they found a way to win. I am so proud of them. As big as that pass play was it would not have mattered had Dylan (Ross) not scored earlier in the period.”
It was a tough loss. Centerville head coach Ryan Cole had little to say but was clearly disappointed for his players. When asked about a possible post season sectional rematch between the rivals, Cole had a simple response: “We can’t wait.”
Northeastern is tied with Knightstown for first place in the Tri-Eastern Conference standings and the two teams have not yet met. Centerville has a game remaining with Knightstown and has not been eliminated from the title race.
Waters was four of nine passing for 114 yards. Colton Creech threw one pass for 33 yards and led Knight rushers with 45 yards on 19 carries. Zane Schneider had 20 tackles for the Knights. Charlie Shaffer had 14, Dakota May had 11. Centerville statistical information was not available.
Northeastern (6-0, 6-0 TEC) 3 0 0 13. 16
Centerville (5-1, 4-1 TEC) 0 0 6 6. 12
A version of this article appeared in the October 2 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.